The men exploded with fury, rallying around Will, and closed in on Rickert, declaring Will’s innocence and demanding justice.
They all told it the same way. Butler had come in here hunting trouble. Will had stood up to him. And Butler had drawn first.
Drawn first and died for his mistake.
A fair fight all the way around.
As the men crowded around him, getting angrier with each passing second, Rickert’s face got paler and paler. He put away his gun and raised his palms, trying to calm the angry men, understanding that they would tear him limb from limb if he tried to jail Will.
“All right, all right,” Rickert said. “You men settle down. I understand now. How was I supposed to know what happened? I just heard the gunshots and come running. Saw Butler on theground and Will standing there with a gun in his hand. I didn’t know it was a fair fight.”
The men eased up then, giving Rickert some space.
The sheriff shook his head, looking from Butler to Will. “I knew Butler was a hothead, and I knew he didn’t like you, but I didn’t think it would come to this.”
“He didn’t come in here because he didn’t like me,” Will said. “He came in here because somebody paid him to assassinate me.”
“Assassinate you?” Sheriff Rickert said incredulously. “Who would pay to have you killed.”
“You know exactly who paid him to kill me, Rickert.” Will knew exactly who had hired Butler. But that didn’t stop him from saying, “Isaac Pew.”
CHAPTER 39
Again, Sully found himself across the desk from his father, who paced back and forth while Sully sat.
“He said there was no reason for his troops to get involved,” Sully reported. “Said the sheriff already has everything under control.”
Sully’s father looked disgusted. “That settles it, then. Captain Culp is not our man. Once we’ve settled things with Bentley, I’ll get to work on having him replaced.”
“I can’t believe Rickert actually arrested Mr. Pew,” Sully said.
“The old fool brought it on himself. He’s so used to having his way, he’s lost his edge. Besides, he wouldn’t stop pestering Rickert about Bentley. Rickert’s probably happy to have the old man out of his hair.”
“For now,” Sully said, “but we’ll see how happy Rickert is after Mr. Pew pays off the judge and gets free again. He’ll have Rickert’s scalp.”
Sully’s father shook his head and turned his look of disgust on Sully. “Pay off the judge? With what?”
“With money, of course.”
“Money? What money? Didn’t you listen to a word I said? The minute they hauled Pew off, his own people robbed him blind, and someone set his house on fire. His own people turned on him.”
“The ungrateful scoundrels,” Sully said.
“What reason did those people have to be grateful? Pew treated them worse than you treat our slaves. They saw their opportunity and seized it. That’s human nature. Now, Pew is ruined.”
“I don’t understand why Will Bentley gave Rickert Pew’s name,” Sully said. “He had to know it was us.”
His father stopped pacing and showed him half a smile. “Ah, finally, you’re thinking. That’s the piece that makes no sense. You’re right, of course. Bentley’s smart enough to know we sent Butler. So why not accuse us? What’s Bentley up to? What is he planning?”
“He’s trying to ruin our name.”
“Yes, and he’s doing a good job. But there has to be more to it than that. Everything’s so efficient, so calculated. Like this move with Pew, accusing him instead of us, mere moments after the fight. He was ready for us. Ready for Butler or someone like him. And he had already thought things through, already knew what he would say to the sheriff, whom he would accuse, all of it. We’re up against a shrewd opponent, son, a very dangerous man.”
“You give him too much credit, Father. Will Bentley used to pick cotton for us. He’s just a peasant. A pig farmer who never had two pennies to rub together.”
Sully’s father stared at him, studying him and not seeming to like what he saw. “Where did I go wrong with you? Never mind. But don’t underestimate Bentley. He’s a very dangerous man indeed, and you underestimate him at your peril. Which leaves us only one choice.”
Sully’s father again removed the painting from the wall, opened the safe, and pulled out money. More this time. Much more.
